The United States Mission to the United Nations sharply criticized a recent debate held in the General Assembly regarding the Cuban embargo, dismissing it as a squander of resources that offers no tangible benefits to the Cuban people.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba emphasized this stance by stating, "At a cost of $28,000 per hour, the $84,000 spent on this repetitive and futile session could have fed 3,500 Cuban children for a month."
This session was initiated by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla under a special emergency mechanism—distinct from the annual October vote—and was passed with 136 votes in favor, nine against, and thirty abstentions.
Among the nine nations opposing the session were the United States, Argentina, Costa Rica, Israel, Morocco, Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Paraguay, and Ukraine.
This result marks a notable setback for Havana: during the annual October vote in 2025, Cuba secured 165 votes in favor, already considered the worst outcome in over three decades.
The U.S. delegation did not stop at criticizing the session's costs. Ambassador Mike Waltz presented photos of over 800 Cuban political prisoners to the Assembly and named individuals such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who is set to complete a five-year sentence on July 9, along with Fernando Almadévez Rivera, Miguel Castillo Pérez, Duanes León Tovero—sentenced to 14 years—and the brothers Jorge and Nadir Martín Perdomo.
"They are not violent, they carry no weapons; they bring flowers and create poetry and songs," Waltz stated about the political prisoners, according to the official speech from the U.S. Mission to the UN.
Waltz further dismissed the regime's narrative regarding the embargo, asserting that "the only embargo is the guillotine the regime holds over its own citizens' heads" and highlighted that the U.S. exported $585 million worth of food and humanitarian goods to Cuba in 2024.
Foreign Minister Rodríguez attempted to interrupt Waltz twice with motions of order, but the Assembly's presidency rejected both, allowing the U.S. diplomat to proceed unimpeded.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba concluded its message with a pointed critique of the multilateral organization: "The UN should refocus on its core mission rather than funding the propaganda machinery of a regime."
This message tagged @AmbUNReform, referring to the UN reform agenda pushed by the Trump administration, which has consistently questioned the organization's spending and effectiveness.
As context, a report by The Nation on July 2 revealed a leaked diplomatic cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 1, instructing U.S. embassies worldwide to block the debate's initiation, categorizing countries into three groups with different guidelines based on their affinity with Cuba.
Despite this diplomatic pressure, the debate was approved, albeit with significantly less support than Cuba had historically received in prior years.
The next annual vote on the embargo is scheduled for October 27, 2026, where it will be assessed whether the regime's diplomatic struggles continue to deepen.
Key Insights on the Cuban Embargo Debate at the UN
What was the U.S. stance on the UN session about the Cuban embargo?
The United States criticized the UN session on the Cuban embargo as a waste of resources, stating it did not benefit the Cuban people and could have been better spent on humanitarian efforts.
How did the U.S. Embassy in Cuba describe the cost of the session?
The U.S. Embassy noted that the $84,000 spent on the session could have fed 3,500 Cuban children for a month, emphasizing the session's futility.
Who attempted to interrupt the U.S. Ambassador during the session?
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez attempted to interrupt Ambassador Mike Waltz, but his objections were overruled by the Assembly's presidency.